The Hellertown Borough Authority announced Wednesday that it recently accepted bids to clean and line sections of water mains on portions of New York Avenue, New Jersey Avenue, Linden Avenue and Depot Street.
“This project will be similar to the one completed in 2012 where a contractor will excavate in certain street intersections, open the ends of the water pipes, clean out the buildup of iron deposits, and then install a cement coating on the interior of the pipes,” HBA administrator Glenn Higbie said in a news release. “The cement coating will prevent future buildup of the iron deposits and improve fire flows in those areas.”
The contractor, HeitKamp Inc., is expected to begin the project Aug. 17 and complete all work within 10 weeks, weather permitting.
“Customers in the work area will continue to be supplied with water while the pipes are being cleaned and lined through the use of temporary service lines,” Higbie said. “Those lines will be sanitized before being placed into use.”
In addition to this cleaning and lining project, new water valves will be installed on High and Depot streets to help improve the operation of the water system in those areas during emergencies.
That work is expected to take several days and cause only short-term customer outages, the news release indicated.
According to Higbie, “the work is expected to cost approximately $380,000 and is part of continuing efforts by the authority to make long-term improvements to the water facilities serving the borough customers.”
The authority’s automated phone notification system will be used during the projects and all customers are being asked to ensure that the authority has an emergency phone number through which to contact them.
Questions can be directed to the Authority Office or Higbie during business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., at 610-838-8051.